South Dakota Gun Owners Voter Guide

2010 Primary Election

South Dakota Gun Owners has created a Gun Rights Survey program to help gun owners understand where candidates for the state Legislature stand on the right to bear arms. Each candidate was asked to indicate where he or she stands on thirteen specific gun rights issues. They were each asked to sign a pledge stating that they would vote according to their answers, and each was informed that failure to answer any question would be considered an anti-gun answer.
Key

P Pro-gun vote
A Anti-gun vote
S Support
O Oppose
-- No voting record on this issue
A Ambiguous answer
R Refused to answer
CSD Citizen Self-Defense Bill
RCC Right to Carry on Campus
ACR Anti-Gun Central Registry
LGB Lautenberg Gun Ban
The numbers in the column headings represent the SDGO Gun Rights Survey questions. You can read the entire survey, or click on each number to read the corresponding question. You can also click on the three-letter issue abbreviation (for example "RCC") for a brief description of the issue.
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
01HouseDDavid Sigdestad--PA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
01HouseDSusan WismerA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
01SenateDJason FrerichsP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
02HouseRNorbert Barrie--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
02HouseRLana J. Greenfield--------OOOOOOOOASSOSS
02HouseDElaine Elliott--------OOOOOOSSOOAOOO
02HouseDH. Paul DennertAPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
02SenateDJim Hundstad--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
03HouseRDavid NovstrupAP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
03HouseRIsaac Latterell--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
03HouseDTim Even--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
03HouseDDennis FeickertA------OOOOOOSOOSSOOO
03SenateDAlan C. Hoerth--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
03SenateRAl Novstrup--PA--OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
04HouseDSteve Street--PA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
04HouseRVal RauschAPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
04HouseRJames E. Gilkerson--------OSOOOOOOOOSOOO
04SenateRMark Pederson--------OOSOOOOOSSSOSS
04SenateRTim Begalka--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
04SenateDSusan Thompson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
05HouseDJ. Maurice Redmond--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
05HouseRRoger SolumA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
05HouseRMelissa Magstadt--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
05HouseDJeff Dunn--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
05HouseRJohn Wiles--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
05SenateDNancy Turbak Berry--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
05SenateRRied Holien--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
06HouseRBrock L. GreenfieldPPA--OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
06HouseRBurt E. Tulson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
06SenateRArt Fryslie--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07HouseDSpencer Hawley--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07HouseRMichael D. Bartley--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07HouseRCarol A. PittsA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07HouseDClayton Walker--------OSOOOOOOSSSOSS
07HouseDHarold W. Widvey--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07SenateDPamela K. Merchant--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
07SenateRLarry Tidemann--PA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
08HouseDGerald LangeP--A--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
08HouseDMitch FargenAA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
08HouseRPatricia K Stricherz--------SSSOOSSOSSSASS
08SenateRRussell Olson--P----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
09HouseRSteve Hickey--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
09HouseRBob Deelstra--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
09HouseCCharles E Drews--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
09HouseDMark W. Anderson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
09HouseDTrudi Hatch--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
09SenateRDeb PetersPPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
09SenateDPatricia Baker--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10HouseDGregory S. Kniffen--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10HouseDMary Ann Giebink--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10HouseRGene G. AbdallahAPAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10HouseRRoger HuntPAA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10SenateRShantel KrebsPPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
10SenateDGeorge Gulson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11HouseRChris Karr--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11HouseDJim Larson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11HouseRMark K Willadsen----A--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11HouseRLora Hubbel--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
11HouseDDarrell D. SolbergA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11SenateDTom Cool--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
11SenateRTodd SchlekewayPA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
12HouseRCasey Murschel----A--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
12HouseRManny SteelePP----OOOOOOOOOSSOSS
12HouseDPaula L. Johnson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
12HouseRHal Wick--PA--OOOOOOOOSOOOSS
12HouseDCurt Rust--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
12SenateRMark Johnston--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
12SenateDSandy Jerstad--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
12SenateCSlade Ammann--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13HouseRCharlotte Landon Shaw--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13HouseDSusy BlakeA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13HouseDAmy Scott-Stoltz--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13HouseRBrian C. Liss--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13SenateRPhyllis M. Heineman--PA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
13SenateDMatt Parker--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14HouseDJeff Winters--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14HouseDMarc S. FeinsteinAA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14HouseDWilliam A. Anderson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14HouseRDavid B. Rose--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
14HouseRR. Shawn Tornow----A--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14SenateDCindy Schumacher--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
14SenateRJoni M. CutlerAPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
15HouseDMartha VanderlindeA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
15HouseDPatrick A. Kirschman--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
15SenateDKathy Miles--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
15SenateDAngie Buhl--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
16HouseDEd Nesselhuf--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
16HouseRJim BolinPA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
16HouseRPatty Miller--------OOOOOOSOSAAASS
16SenateRDan LedermanP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
16SenateDKathy Hill--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
17HouseDPatricia A. Norin--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
17HouseRJamie M. BoomgardenPPA--OOOOOOOOOSSOSS
17HouseDTom Jones--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
17HouseRRon Nelson--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
17SenateDEldon NygaardPP----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
17SenateRJohn W. Lang--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
18HouseDBernie HunhoffA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
18HouseRCharlotte "Charlii" Gilson--------OOOSOSSOSOSOSS
18HouseDJay Williams--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
18HouseRNick MoserP------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
18SenateRJean Hunhoff--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
19HouseDKyle Schoenfish--------OSOOOOOOSOSOSO
19HouseREdward E VanGerpen--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
19HouseRValerie Campbell--------OOAOOOOOSSSOSS
19HouseDFrank J. Kloucek--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
19SenateRJ.E. "Jim" Putnam--PA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
19SenateDGlennis (Glenny) Stern--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
20HouseRTona Rozum--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
20HouseRLance CarsonPP----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
20SenateDSusan Thie--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
20SenateRMike Vehle--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
21HouseDNorm Cihak--------OOOOOOOOSSSSOA
21HouseRJames Schaefer--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
21HouseRLee Qualm--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
21HouseRKent JuhnkePP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
21HouseDDavid Reis--------OOOOOOOSSSSSSS
21SenateRCooper Garnos--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
21SenateDSteve Smith--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
22HouseDPeggy GibsonA------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
22HouseRJim White--------OOOOOOOOSSSOAS
22HouseDQuinten L. Burg--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
22SenateRTom Hansen--A----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
22SenateDPerry D Danforth--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
22SenateDRon Volesky--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
23HouseRCharles B. HoffmanP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
23HouseRJustin R. CroninP------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
23SenateRCorey Brown--P----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
24HouseRTerry Leibel--------OAAOOOAOSSSOAA
24HouseDJodi R Owen--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
24HouseDJade Cowan--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
24HouseRCarl E. Rathbun--------OOOSOOOOSSSOSS
24HouseRTad Perry--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
24HouseRJim Sheehan--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
24HouseRMark E. Venner--------OOOOOOOOSSAAOS
24SenateDDonna Fjelstad--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
24SenateRBob GrayAAA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
25HouseDOran A. SorensonAA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
25HouseRJon Hansen--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
25HouseDDennis Van Overschelde--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
25HouseRStace Nelson--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
25SenateRTim RavePP----OOOOOOOOSSSSSS
25SenateDDan Ahlers--A----SSOOOOOOOOSOOO
26SenateRJohn S. Meyer--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
26SenateDBillie H. Sutton--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
26AHouseDLarry LucasAA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
26BHouseDJoel Keierleber--------OOAOOOOOOSSAAS
26BHouseRKim VannemanPP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
DistSeatPtyNameCSDRCCACRLGB12345678a8b910111213
27HouseDKevin KillerAA----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
27HouseDEdward Iron Cloud IIIP------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
27SenateDJim Bradford--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
27SenateREugene D. Christensen--------OAOSOOOOSSSOSS
28SenateDJulie A. Garreau--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
28SenateRRyan M. Maher--P----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
28AHouseDDean SchremppP------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
28AHouseDThomas Van Norman--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
28BHouseRBetty OlsonPP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
29HouseRDean WinkP------OOOSOOOOSSSOSO
29HouseDDaleArleta Volmer--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
29HouseRThomas J. BrunnerPPA--OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
29SenateRLarry RhodenAPA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
30HouseRMike VerchioP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
30HouseRLance S. RussellP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
30HouseDKathleen Ann--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
30SenateRGeorge Ferebee--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
30SenateRBruce Rampelberg--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
31HouseRFred W. RomkemaP------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
31HouseRCharles M. TurbivillePP----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
31HouseDKevin W. O'Dea--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
31SenateDNyla D. Griffith--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
31SenateRTom Nelson--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13
32HouseRKristin Conzet--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
32HouseRBrian GoschPP----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
32SenateRStanford Adelstein--AA--RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
33HouseRJacqueline SlyPA----OOOOOOOOSSSOOS
33HouseRPhil JensenP------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
33HouseCJames "Red" McEntire--------OAOOOOOOSSSO
33SenateRJ.P. Duniphan----AAOOOOOOOOOSSOSS
33SenateRElizabeth Kraus----A--OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
34HouseDDevin Oliver--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
34HouseRDebra D. Watson--------OASSOOOOSSSOSO
34HouseRDan Dryden--------SOOOORSRRORSOO
34HouseRDavid LustPP----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
34HouseDJohn C. Willman--------OSOOOOOOSSSOSS
34SenateRCraig Tieszen--A----RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
35HouseRDon "Pete" KoppPP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
35HouseDFern Y. Johnson--------OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
35HouseRMark KirkebyPP----OOOOOOOOSSSOSS
35SenateDAnthony Valella--------RRRRRRRRRRRRRR
35SenateRJeffrey K. Haverly--AA--OSOOOOOOSSSOOS
Dist Seat Pty Name CSD RCC ACR LGB 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8a 8b 9 10 11 12 13

The Citizen Self-Defense Bill was introduced in 2009 as HB 1278 and again in 2010 as SB 180.

Cities in South Dakota are exploiting a loop-hole in state law to nullify your constitutional gun rights. Sioux Falls has banned firearms on all city property, including every city park. Rapid City has also banned self-defense on some city property, and there are several other towns heading in this direction. The Citizens Self-Defense Bill was designed to closed the loop-hole and ended these city-level gun bans.

The Right to Carry on Campus bill was introduced in 2008 as HB 1261 and again in 2009 as SB 82. It would have recognized that adults on college campuses have the same right to self-defense that every other adult citizen of South Dakota enjoys.

Should a person have less freedom and safety than anyone else simply because he or she goes to college? Should society trust a person less than other people of equal age simply because he or she attends college? If a person is mature and responsible enough to cast a vote, fight a war, own a gun, carry a gun and exercise every other right of citizenship that every other adult citizen enjoys, then why should he or she be disarmed and defenseless at institutions of higher learning? The answer is clear. The right to keep and bear arms extends to all citizens, whether or not they attend college.

The original Anti-gun Central Registry bill was introduced in 2001 as House Bill 1090. It would have registered every concealed pistol permit holder in a database similar to the Sex Offender Registry. This legislation labeled these gun owners as dangerous and encouraged law-enforcement to treat them as a threat.

The Anti-gun Central Registry bill was resurrected in 2005 as House Bill 1209. Just as in 2001 bill, the effect of this legislation is to profile every permit holder as dangerous.

Senate Bill 85 was introduced in 2001 and mirrored the hated federal Lautenberg gun ban, which has stripped thousands of ordinary citizens of their gun rights for life. Literally thousands law-abiding citizens have been banned from ever owning a gun again simply because they had a loud argument with their spouse or gave a grown child a shove. In one case a woman tore her husband’s pocket. In another a daughter threw her keys at her Mom – and missed. Both were arrested on “domestic violence charges and automatically lost their 2nd Amendment rights. Clearly, these kind of altercations are not to be condoned, but no one should lose their fundamental rights because of them.

1. Do you support or oppose government mandated use of trigger locks or other locked storage requirements for handguns?
2. Do you support or oppose background checks, fingerprinting, fees, government mandated training or any form of government licensing as a requirement for buying or possessing a gun?
3. Currently, South Dakota requires each applicant for a concealed pistol permit to undergo a background check. Would you support or oppose legislation adding fingerprinting or firearms training as further requirements for obtaining a concealed pistol permit?
4. Do you support or oppose laws requiring background checks on private firearms transactions?
5. Do you support or oppose “one gun a month” laws that limit purchase of firearms by law-abiding citizens?
6. Some people are calling for laws to prohibit 18-20 year-olds from possessing firearms. Such laws make it illegal for a person under the age of 21 to obtain a concealed pistol permit or carry a firearm except under very limited circumstances. Do you support or oppose laws that would prohibit an 18-20 year-old from possessing a firearm?
7. Do you support or oppose limitations on the private ownership of .50 caliber rifles?
8. Current South Dakota law states that no municipality, township or county may pass an ordinance restricting the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, ownership, manufacture, or repair of firearms or ammunition or their components. The city of Sioux Falls has enacted an executive order banning the possession of firearms on all city property.

8a. Would you support or oppose legislation to give cities and counties authority to restrict the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, ownership, manufacture, or repair of firearms or ammunition or their components?
8. Current South Dakota law states that no municipality, township or county may pass an ordinance restricting the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, ownership, manufacture, or repair of firearms or ammunition or their components. The city of Sioux Falls has enacted an executive order banning the possession of firearms on all city property.

8b. Would you support or oppose legislation to clarify that cities and counties may not in any way restrict the possession, transportation, sale, transfer, ownership, manufacture, or repair of firearms or ammunition or their components?
9. Current state law is unclear as to whether a citizen needs a concealed pistol permit in order to possess a loaded handgun in a vehicle. Would you support or oppose legislation to clarify that a person does not need a permit in order to possess a loaded handgun in a vehicle for self-defense?
10. Current state law is also unclear as to how and when a citizen may possess a loaded handgun on snowmobiles, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. Would you support or oppose legislation to clarify that a person may carry a loaded handgun for self-defense while on a motorcycle, snowmobile or off-road vehicle?
11. Current state law bans the possession of firearms in schools, bars, courthouses and the state Capitol. Some people are calling for more so-called “gun free zones” where law-abiding citizens may not possess firearms for self-defense. Would you support or oppose legislation that expands these “gun free zones” to other public places like restaurants, malls, churches, banks, libraries or parks?
12. The South Dakota Board of Regents has enacted a “gun free zone” policy to ban the possession of firearms for self-defense on state college campuses. Students or faculty who violate this policy could face expulsion or dismissal. Within the past several years, legislation has been introduced which would make it a crime to possess a gun on campus. Legislation has also been introduced which would require the Board of Regents to repeal their “gun free zone” policy. Would you support or oppose legislation that would reverse “gun free zone” policies and allow law-abiding adults to bear arms for self-defense on state college campuses?
13. Vermont law recognizes that every citizen has the right to carry a gun, openly or concealed, except to commit a crime. Thus, with no license or government bureaucracy, citizens from Vermont, or any other state, can carry concealed firearms in Vermont. Alaska and Montana have similar laws, and Arizona and Wyoming are moving in this direction.